Armed with bows and axes, hunters are shown with red, black and yellow paint on their faces and wearing elaborate headdresses traditionally worn in battle.

One image shows a Kangunaman tribesman from the Sepik River with scale-like scarification on his back to represent his crocodile spirit. Others show Huli Wigmen with their faces painted bright yellow.

The photographs were taken during a Sing-sing, where tribes or villages gather to show their distinct cultures, dance and music. Travel photographer Trevor Cole, 61, from Northern Ireland, used a Nikon D810 and D750 to capture the images.  

Stunning pictures show how tribesmen in Papua New Guinea scar their backs to represent their 'crocodile spirit'. Pictured: A  Kangunaman tribesman from the Sepik River with the scale-like scarification on his back

The astonishing photographs were taken during a Sing-sing, where tribes or villages gather to show their distinct cultures, dance and music. Pictured: Three hunters from the Huli tribe of Papua New Guinea

The photographs, taken by travel photographer Trevor Cole, 61, from Northern Ireland, offer a rare insight into the lives of remote tribes in the country

Armed with bows and axes, the Kunai hunters are shown with red, black and yellow paint on their faces and wearing elaborate headdresses traditionally worn in battle

The Huli Tribe currently has a population of around 65,000 people and lives in the Tari Basin in the highlands of Papua New Guinea

Photographer Trevor Cole, from Northern Ireland, captured this image of an onlooker with traditional head dress taking part in a gathering of tribes in Papau New Guinea

The huntsmen, including this man from the Huli tribe, dress up in traditional clothes for the gathering. Threats to the Huli Tribe include flooding, crop damage and the danger of their part of the rainforest being cut down for wood

The photographs were captured in Papua New Guinea using Nikon D810 and D750 cameras. Mr Cole said these photographs, portraiture has become one of the most important facets of his photography

More than 100 different tribes meet to celebrate their differences in rhythmic song and dance during the Sing-sing gatherings. This member of the Kunai tribe is pictured carrying an axe and spear

A Papua New Guinea hunter from the Kunai tribe is pictured with yellow, white and black face paint and wearing colourful headdress for the traditional gathering

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